Rangers crash out of Champions League in humiliating fashion

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Club Brugge 6 - 0 Rangers (Club Brugge won 9-1 on aggregate)

Russell Martin’s Rangers crashed out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion, suffering a record-equalling six-goal defeat against Club Brugge to seal a heavy aggregate loss.

Author | Mark Lee

Stadium | Jan Breydelstadion

Super News Football | Champions League | Club Brugge v Rangers pre match
Pre match atmosphere

Before kick-off Martin insisted Rangers were “calm” despite a stuttering start to the season, but supporters are unlikely to share that sentiment with Celtic due at Ibrox on Sunday.

A closer look at a terrible first 45 minutes

An error-strewn opening eight minutes in Belgium encapsulated Martin’s difficult start as manager, with Rangers five goals down by the interval.

The defence crumbled as Nicolo Tresoldi’s diving header found the net and Max Aarons was dismissed three minutes later for dragging down Christos Tzolis after a simple ball sliced through the back line. Captain Hans Vanaken headed in from a corner before the hosts scored three more in a brutal six-minute spell.

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Joaquin Seys struck from a rebound and then volleyed in superbly, while Aleksandar Stankovic nodded home a free header moments before the break. Of Brugge’s 19 first-half attempts, Tzolis and Vanaken both rattled the crossbar, while Jack Butland was forced into several saves.

Damage limitation in the second-half

Martin switched to a 5-4-0 formation after half-time, but within minutes Tzolis had broken through again to clip in a sixth. Brugge eventually eased off, sparing Rangers an even heavier defeat, though that will provide little comfort for a fanbase that has seen only three wins in ten matches this season.

The margin of defeat matches Rangers’ 6-0 reverse against Real Madrid in 1963 and their 7-1 hammering by Liverpool in 2022.

Anger from Rangers fans

Super News Football | Champions League | Club Brugge v Rangers | Away fans pre match
There wasn't much hope from the Rangers end before kick-off

Keira, a Rangers fan, told us: "We had a tough task tonight and there was so much self-inflicted pain. Our response to disappointment is very poor. The fans are frustrated, annoyed and angry because they want to see a club we can all be proud of. There was nothing to be proud of tonight."

William Thomas was critical of the club's transfer policy and believes it is a contributing factor to this latest debacle: "I don't think the signings have made the team better. I can't see one that is an upgrade on what they had."

Location: Koning Leopold III-laan 50, 8200 Brugge, Belgium

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